The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has confirmed that televangelist Pastor Paul Adefarasin faces criminal charges after pointing a stun gun at another person, an act he said is punishable under Nigerian law even if the device is non-lethal. Jimoh spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday while providing an update on the ongoing probe.

“Nothing is an offence under the law, except what the law states to be an offence,” Jimoh explained. “Even under the Fire Arms Act, if you fashion out anything that is not metal, like wood, and you make it look like a gun, and you use that guise to take possession of property from another person, you have committed armed robbery. So, pointing a stun gun at another individual and sending that threat and fear to such a person at that particular time constitutes an offence. So, the police are doing everything in line with the law.”

According to Jimoh, the stun gun recovered from Adefarasin qualifies as prohibited riot control equipment under Nigerian statutes. Although the pastor has been released on bail, the commissioner emphasized that the investigation remains active. “He was invited; a letter of invitation was sent to him. In fact, we had prepared our warrant of arrest, in case he refused to comply with the invitation. But he turned himself in and was questioned by a team of investigators who were already on the matter before he turned himself in.”

The video that sparked the inquiry surfaced earlier this month, showing Adefarasin seated in a Range Rover holding what many believed to be a firearm as he spoke to someone outside the vehicle. The pastor has since taken to his official X account to dispute any wrongdoing: “You might be aware of a video circulating on social media showing me in what some have misunderstood as brandishing a firearm. I want to assure you — that was certainly not a firearm, and at no point did I point such at anyone.”

Jimoh further revealed that the individual allegedly threatened in the clip, a content creator whose address the police have obtained—will be summoned to provide a statement. “It is equally on social media that the person he pointed it to is a content creator and we are taking a statement from him as soon as he equally gets to us because we have got his address and we’re going to get him to make a statement in that regard.”

The commissioner concluded by promising transparency once the inquiry is complete: “The pastor is still under investigation, though he has been granted bail, but we will continue with the investigation and make the outcome of the investigation public for all Nigerians to know.”

Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs and chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mediation and Security Council, has raised concerns over reports of impending United States visa restrictions on West African countries, describing the move as a “non-tariff barrier” that threatens trade and regional cooperation.

Tuggar, who spoke at the 54th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level in Abuja on Wednesday, said such restrictions if implemented, would hamper the region’s drive for economic growth and collaboration with international partners.

“We would like to do deals with the US, but visa restrictions are non-tariff barriers to deals,” he said.

Tuggar described the policy as both a diplomatic setback and an economic miscalculation, stressing that ECOWAS countries possess untapped opportunities for global partnerships.

He said: “We possess critical minerals and even rare earths such as Samarium from the Monazite found in my home state of Bauchi.

“We in this part of the world are students of the art of the deal and have been part of the international trading system even before the modern state system.”

He urged the US government to reconsider its posture toward the region, warning that West Africa has alternative partners willing to engage.

Tuggar said: “ECOWAS countries and the US have a rare opportunity to create a partnership based on principles of need.

“We are also a strategic alternative to more distant and politically divergent energy producers.

“We will do deals for our prosperity; the only question is with whom? Who takes up the opportunities in our region by allowing government officials and technocrats, business executives and entrepreneurs to travel freely back and forth to close the deals?”

Reports indicate that Washington may be considering visa restrictions on multiple African countries over alleged failures to meet new US State Department benchmarks on document reliability and governance.

Countries potentially affected include Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Côte d’Ivoire, among others.

The policy is reportedly linked to concerns about identity documentation, government fraud, and cooperation with US security and immigration enforcement.

The Kano State Government has officially launched “Operation Safe Corridor,” a community reintegration initiative aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant thugs into society as part of broader efforts to promote peace and security in the state.

Speaking during the launch of the programme on Thursday at the Fele Events Centre in Kano, the state Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, stated that the initiative is part of a deliberate strategy by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to redirect the energies of young people away from political violence and crime. He noted that the youth were drawn from eight metropolitan local government areas in the state.

The state commissioner for information comrade Ibrahim Waiya addressing the Youth

“This is the third day we are interacting with the youth from the eight metropolitan local governments,” Waiya said. “There is a reason for creation, and the primary one is to worship the Almighty. In that process, we are expected to forbid what is wrong and promote what is right.”

Waiya further emphasized the spiritual and moral principles underpinning the initiative. He said, “The Almighty Allah prohibits killing and harming others. No one should ask you to hurt another person. Politicians who supply you with drugs or weapons are not your friends they are your enemies.”

According to the Commissioner, the Governor’s intention is to help the youth and give them a new sense of purpose. “The Governor of Kano State is willing to help the youth; that is why we have gathered you here today to inform you about our new strategy,” he added. However, he warned, “We will not tolerate lawlessness. We want you to stop thuggery. If they give you money, take it but do not subscribe to their ideas of violence.”

He also warned political actors against using the guise of youth empowerment to foment violence. “We will not allow any politician pretending to support the youth to use them to create chaos in the state. Thuggery is an embarrassment to Kano, and we urge you to desist from it,” Waiya declared.

Also addressing the gathering, respected Islamic scholar Dauda Lokon Makera called on the youths to embrace forgiveness and peace. He urged them to seek spiritual guidance and let go of any past grievances.

One of the rehabilitated youths, Alhaji Nana, also spoke at the event. “Do not allow any politician to use you to cause chaos. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf wants a peaceful Kano, and so does Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II,” Nana said. “They have never instructed anyone to carry arms against their opponents.”

The event was marked by loud ovations from the repentant youths, many of whom publicly declared their decision to renounce thuggery and embrace a peaceful lifestyle. Most of them reiterated their commitment to contributing to a safer and more harmonious Kano.